Library School

We are known for our inclusive environment, inspirational teaching, academic standards, strong connection with the professional sector, and the high employability of our students.

Our courses offer a unique, professional focus on the fundamental principles of library and information science, from the earliest communication systems to contemporary digital information technologies and practice. All our students receive a thorough grounding in the key areas of knowledge organisation, information storage and retrieval, information literacy, and information behaviour. Library and information science considers the processes of information communication, and as such it has relevance to every subject. General theories and concepts can be customised for individual interests through assignment focus, choice of dissertation topic, and via the Independent Study module. The courses are closely related, and share a number of modules.

Course structure

Course content is organised into modules. Each module is worth 15 credits, and requires, approximately, 150 hours of study. Modules are delivered as a series of 10 weekly, face-to-face, sessions during either the autumn or spring terms. Contact time for each module is around 30 hours, with the remaining 120 hours being allotted to self-study and assignments. Please note, we do not offer a distance-learning mode.

Each course may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students take four modules per term, completing the course in 12 months, whilst part-time students take two modules per term, completing the course over 28 months.

Teaching

The Library School benefits from its teaching staff, all of who are experienced in education, research and practice. All our staff are research active, and class materials draw from cutting edge ideas and publications.

We regularly invite guest lecturers and speakers, leaders in the field, who provide a broader context for research, professional practice and outreach. Our students also engage with the many outstanding collections to be found within the wider University of London, and in London itself, including those of Senate House Library, and the British Library. CityLIS students also benefit from the wealth of related professional and research events that take place throughout London.

Library Science vs Information Science

CityLIS interprets the discipline of library and information science as a spectrum comprising the processes of the information communication chain. These include: creation, dissemination, collection, management, organisation, indexing, design, preservation, understanding, measurement and use of information, as influenced by technology, politics, economics and social trends. The different courses emphasise different aspects of the communication chain.

Information Science has an emphasis on subject specific resources, and the legal and technological solutions that enable storage, organisation and access. In recent years, the subject related focus has expanded from text and image based resources, to include data sets, data analysis and meaning, and research data management.

Neither subject, however, is entirely independent of the other, and this is reflected in course content.

Both CityLIS courses incorporate philosophy and ethics, as they relate to informational processes, in all modules.

Studying at CityLIS

CityLIS aims to provide a supportive environment for students, where professionalism and personal integrity count alongside academic prowess. We are an extensive community not only of students, but also of alumni, academic colleagues, friends, and practitioners. Value is placed on strong interpersonal skills, meaningful and lasting connections within professional networks, and we are proud of our friendly, intelligent, highly competent cohort,

Recognising the importance of transversal skills, all our students are required to maintain a professional blog, and to connect with classmates, colleagues and wider networks via social media platforms such as Twitter. We believe that communication must reach beyond the classroom.

Find us

City, University of London is an independent member institution of the University of London. Established by
Royal Charter in 1836, the University of London consists of 18 independent member institutions with outstanding
global reputations and several prestigious central academic bodies and activities.

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